Inlet guide vane assembly

ABSTRACT

An inlet guide vane assembly having a plurality of pivoting vanes interconnected with a mechanism useful to move the vanes between positions. The vanes can be connected via a series of links and reciprocating hinges which together transmit motion from a drive vane to a number of driven vanes without the need for a sync ring. Motion received by a drive vane is transmitted via a first link to a reciprocating hinge, where the reciprocating hinge is capable of both pivoting and moving in a reciprocating manner along a path. The reciprocating hinge can also be coupled with a second link which transmits motion imparted from the drive vane via the first link to a driven vane. The driven vane is connected via another second link to another reciprocating hinge, which in turns transmits further motion via another first link to another driven vane.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to compressor inlet guide vanes,and more particularly, but not exclusively, to linkage arrangements toprovide sympathetic motion of vanes in an inlet guide vane assembly.

BACKGROUND

Providing positioning mechanisms in an inlet guide vane assembly remainsan area of interest. Some existing systems have various shortcomingsrelative to certain applications. Accordingly, there remains a need forfurther contributions in this area of technology.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique link and pivotmechanism assembly for an inlet guide vane assembly. Other embodimentsinclude apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, andcombinations for providing movement positioning of vanes used in aninlet guide vane assembly. Further embodiments, forms, features,aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shallbecome apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a compressor with inlet guide vaneassembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art inlet guide vane assembly.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

With reference to FIG. 1, a compressor system 50 is shown having acompressor 52 capable of generating a compressed gas, as well as aninlet guide vane (IGV) assembly 54 useful to modulate gas flow at aninlet 56 of the compressor 52. The compressor system 50 can include oneor more stages in any given embodiment, with the IGV 54 typically placedbefore the first stage in a multi-stage embodiment. The compressor 52can take a variety of forms, and in one non-limiting embodiment is acentrifugal compressor. Example compressors include the 3CII, 5CII,C700, Centax CX series blowers, C950, and C3000 available fromIngersoll-Rand, Davidson, N.C.

The IGV assembly 54 can include an annular housing 58 with an array ofvanes 60 (seen in FIG. 3) disposed in an internal flow path to modulateair flow. One embodiment of the vanes 60 a and 60 b (both of which areincluded in the term “vanes 60” or “array of vanes 60”) can be seen inFIG. 2 installed in different IGV configuration which includes a syncring 62 that extends substantially around the annular housing 58 of theIGV, but which vanes 60 a and 60 b can also be used in the IGV of theembodiments disclosed herein. The IGV 54 can also include an actuator 64to position the vanes 60 when modulating air flow. The vanes 60 caninclude a stem 66 (seen in FIG. 2) that extends through a wall of thehousing 58. The vanes 60 can include a drive vane connected with theactuator 64, and driven vanes that are coupled through a mechanism tothe drive vane so as to provide sympathetic motion of the driven vaneswith the drive vane when the drive vane is actuated. Although the deviceof FIG. 2 uses a sync ring to provide sympathetic motion, embodiments ofthe IGV 54 disclosed herein utilize a link and pivot mechanism bestshown in FIG. 3.

Turning now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the IGV assembly 54 is shownwhich includes a link and pivot mechanism illustrated in greater detail.The IGV 54 can include a drive vane 60 a having a drive stem 66 a,driven vanes 60 having associated driven stems 66 b, a plurality offirst links 68, a plurality of second links 70, and a plurality ofreciprocating hinges 72 distributed around the IGV 54. Power is providedto the drive stem 66 a (e.g. via an actuator, actuation link, etc)causing the drive stem 66 a to rotate.

The first links 68 and second links 70 are each attached at one of theirends to the stems, whether the drive stem 66 a or any of the drivenstems 66 b. The attachment of links 68 or 70 to any of the stems is viaa pivoting link which can be manifested in any number of different ways.For example, the links 68 or 70 can be fastened via a pin and apertureconnection, a loosely riveted connection between the components, ahinge, etc etc etc which allows the links 68 or 70 to pivot about theattachment point relative to the stems. A similar type of connection canalso be used at the other end of the links 68 or 70 for attachment tothe reciprocating hinge 72. Either end of any or all of the links 68 and70 can furthermore have different types of connection points. In someforms the links 68 can have one type of connection and links 70 can haveanother. In short, any variety of connection points can be used for thelinks 68 and/or 70 to any structure used in the actuation of the vanes60. First links 68 can be relatively thin in cross section and narrow inwidth relative to its length, and also bent or angled along its lengthnear one end as illustrated, but any shape is contemplated for the givenimplementation. Second links 70 can also be relatively thin and in oneform (e.g. the illustrated form) the links are straight with no bendsuch as that provided in the first links 68. The links can be attachedany suitable distance from a center of rotation of the vane stems 66 aand/or 66 b (and discussed further below).

Actuation of the vanes 60 is accomplished by providing actuation powerto the drive stem 66 a of drive vane 60 a. Such delivery of actuationpower can be via any suitable type of actuation and powered via anysuitable source. To set forth just a few non-limiting examples, rotaryor linear actuators can be used with the drive vane 60 a that arepowered via hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical sources. Rotation of thedrive stem 66 a via a suitable actuator causes sympathetic movement inthe first link 68 which itself is coupled to the reciprocating hinge 72.

The reciprocating hinge 72 includes a body 74, bearing 76, and bearingguide 78 which together operate to provide a hinge that reciprocatesalong a path upon actuation of the drive stem 66 a and transmits powerto the second link 70. The body 74 is attached to the first link 68 andsecond link 70 which can be accomplished using any of the techniquesdescribed above. The body 74 can includes a top with portions that areangled to one another to permit planar attachment of the various links68 and 70, but such angled surface portions are not required dependingon the attachment technique (e.g. an angled bore can be provided in abody 74 having a flat top. The body 74 is configured to rotate and/orslide relative to the bearing guide 78 as the body 74 moves along a pathdirected by the same bearing guide 78.

The bearing 76 can take on any variety of forms suitable to permitrotation and translation of the body 74 relative to the bearing guide78. To set forth just a few nonlimiting examples, the bearing 76 can bea simple contact bearing, a sleeve bearing, a ball bearing assemblyhaving an inner and outer race, or can incorporate any number of rollingelement bearings in any variety of arrangements. In general the bearing76 is intended to engage the bearing guide 78 for translation along theguide 78.

The bearing guide 78 can take any variety of forms useful torestrict/confine/direct/etc the translating motion of the bearing 76 asit receives motive force via the body 74 and link 68. The bearing guide78 can include any suitable surface 80 appropriate to engage the bearing76, whether that surface 80 flat or otherwise shaped. In one nonlimitingform the surface 80 can be a U-shaped channel suitable to capture thebearing 76. The bearing guide 78 includes at least one side forengagement with the bearing 76, but in other forms such as illustratedin FIG. 3 preferably two can be used with at least one or both used toengage the bearing 76. In some forms the bearing guide 78 can include astop in one end which prohibits further travel of the bearing 76, and inother additional and/or alternative forms can include an open enduseful, among other reasons, to permit sliding insertion of the bearing76 into the bearing guide 78. The guides 78 are shown as a matter ofillustration convenience as standing off some distance from an outersurface of the wall through which the vane stem protrudes. It will beappreciated, however, that the wall can extend out to directly supportthe guide, or a supporting structure can be used to provide necessarysupport.

As stated above, rotation of the drive stem 66 a via a suitable actuatorcauses sympathetic movement in the first link 68 which itself is coupledto the reciprocating hinge 72. On the other side of the reciprocatinghinge 72, the second link 70 is also attached at one of its ends to thereciprocating hinge 72 and is used to transmit motion from thereciprocating hinge 72 to the vane stem 66 b. Rotation of the stem 66 bdriven by the second link 70 thus causes a second link on the other sideof the stem 66 b to also move, which in turn causes the nextreciprocating hinge 72 to move, which in turn causes its first link tomove, and so on and so forth. A repeating pattern of links and hingescan be utilized around the periphery of the IGV assembly, such that thepattern develops according to the following template: {vane, first link,reciprocating hinge, second link, vane, second link, reciprocatinghinge, first link}. In some forms the pattern can repeat three times,but other numbers of repeats are contemplated. Motion imparted to thedrive vane 66 a is thus transmitted through a series of linkages andhinges to the remaining driven vanes 66 b.

As discussed above, the links are attached to the vanes through amechanism that permits relative rotation between the two. In one formthe links 68 and/or 70 can be attached direct to the stem of the vane,or an extension of the stem. For example, the stem can include one ormore ears that protrude and which permit a surface to which the link canbe attached. In one form any or all of the stems can include an openinginto which is inserted a rod, where the rod is used to attach to thelink. The illustrated embodiment depicts one form of rods 82/84extending from the stems. The opening can be a recess or a throughpassage. Whether the rod includes a circular diameter or other shape, itwill be appreciated that such an insert device can be useful in themanufacturing/assembly of the IGV 54. In one form the rod is manifestedas an extension from the vane stem whether or not the extension itselfwas inserted into the vane stem or made integrally with one or moreportions of the vane stem. Such an integral rod can have a circularappearance, but other appearances are also contemplated. The rods 84extending from stems that attach the second links can be longer thanrods 82 extending from stems that attach the first links, but othervariations are also contemplated (e.g. same length rods, or reverserelationship, depending on the application). Furthermore, and as shownin the illustrated embodiment, the longer length provided from center ofvane rotation by the longer rods can be coupled with straight secondlinks 70, while the shorter length provided from center of vane rotationby the shorter rods can be coupled with the bent or angled first links68.

Although not seen, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 includesadditional vanes 60, links 68 and 70, reciprocating hinges 72, bearings76 and bearing guides 78. In one form the IGV 54 can include one drivevane 60, seven driven vanes 60, eight reciprocating hinges 72 (fourdisposed upstream and four disposed downstream), four long rods 84, fourshort rods 82, four sets of straight links 68, four sets of bent links70. Please note that the number of rods (either or both rods 82 and rods84), number of vanes, and number of reciprocating hinges can take onnumbers other than those called out above in various other embodiments.

The IGV assembly 54 described herein can have the same or similar formfactor as a sync ring style IGV assembly such that embodiments of theIGV assembly 54 disclosed herein can be retrofitted to existingcompressor systems and/or installed in newly made assemblies. It willthus be appreciated herein that the IGV assemblies 54 can have anabsence of a sync ring.

One aspect of the present application includes an apparatus comprisingan inlet guide vane device having a plurality of vanes, one theplurality of vanes being a drive vane and the other of the plurality ofvanes being driven vanes, each of the drive vane and a driven vanesproject radially into a flow stream, the drive vane and the driven vanesstructured as variable vanes that pivot about their respectiverotational axes to change a cross sectional area of the inlet guide vanethrough which the flow stream traverses, the drive vane coupled to atleast one of the driven vanes through a reciprocating hinge, thereciprocating hinge connected to the drive vane through a first link andconnected to the at least one of the driven vanes through a second linksuch that rotation of the drive vane about its axis causes motion of thereciprocating hinge through action of the first link, and the motion ofthe reciprocating hinge causes actuation of the at least one of thedriven vanes through action of the second link, wherein the drive vaneis capable of causing sympathetic motion of the driven vane without acircumferentially extending synchronization ring.

A feature of the present application further includes a plurality ofconnection rods, and a plurality of first links, reciprocating hinges,and second links distributed in a repeating pattern around the inletguide vane device, the pattern including: connection rod connected tofirst link connected to reciprocating hinge connected to second linkconnected to connection rod connected to second link connected toreciprocating hinge connected to first link.

Another feature of the present application includes wherein theplurality of connection rods includes a plurality of first connectionrods and a plurality of second connection rods, the plurality of firstconnection rods shorter than the plurality of second connection rods,the connection rod of the drive vane being one of the plurality of firstconnection rods.

Still another feature of the present application includes wherein therepeating pattern is connected to the plurality of driven vanes and onlya single drive vane, wherein the reciprocating hinge includes a bearing,and which further includes means for guiding the bearing.

Yet another feature of the present application includes wherein withinthe pattern the first recited reciprocating hinge is located on anopposing side of the at least one driven vane relative to the secondrecited reciprocating hinge.

Still yet another feature of the present application includes wherein aconnection rod extends through an opening of the at least one drivenvane in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the at leastone driven vane.

Yet still another feature of the present application includes wherein ahinge point of the connection rod and second link form a larger momentarm about the at least one driven vane than a moment arm formed by thehinge point of the connection rod and the first link about the drivevane.

A further feature of the present application includes wherein theopening is a through-opening extending from one side of the driven vane,and wherein the first link includes a relatively constant width as wellas a length, the length longer than the width, and wherein the firstlink includes an end that is bent along its length.

Another aspect of the present application includes an apparatuscomprising an inlet guide vane assembly including: a drive vanestructured to receive a torque to generate movement in the drive vaneand thereby change a cross sectional area of a flow path of the inletguide vane assembly, a first link connected to the drive vane andstructured to move in response to pivoting motion of the drive vane, areciprocating hinge connected to the drive vane via the first link, thereciprocating hinge structured to receive motion from the first link androtate about an axis oriented in a radial direction of the inlet guidevane assembly and to translate in an axial direction of the inlet guidevane assembly, a second link connected to the reciprocating hinge andstructured to move in response to the rotation and translation of thereciprocating hinge, and a driven vane connected to the reciprocatinghinge via the second link, the driven vane structured to receive atorque from movement of the second link to cause rotation of the drivenvane and thereby change a cross sectional area of the flow path of theinlet guide vane assembly.

A feature of the present application includes wherein the driven vanemoves in response to movement of the drive vane without need of acircumferentially translating ring that synchronizes movement.

Another feature of the present application includes the reciprocatinghinge having a pivoting member slidably received in a guide.

Still another feature of the present application includes where theguide is a bearing guide structured to capture a bearing of thereciprocating hinge, the bearing permitting pivoting motion of thereciprocating hinge constrained by the bearing guide.

Yet another feature of the present application includes wherein thebearing is a ball bearing.

Still yet another feature of the present application includes whereinthe bearing guide includes a grooved feature within which the bearing iscaptured, and wherein the grooved feature provides for a reciprocatingpath traversed by the reciprocating hinge, the reciprocating pathextending in a line that extends parallel to an internal flow space ofthe inlet guide vane device in which the flow stream traverses.

Yet still another feature of the present application includes wherein aconnection rod extends through an opening of the drive vane in adirection transverse to the rotational axis of the drive vane, andwherein the first link is connected to the connection rod through apivoting connection.

A further feature of the present application includes wherein anotherconnection rod extends through an opening of the at least one drivenvane in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the drivenvane, and wherein the second link is connected to the another connectionrod through a pivoting connection.

A yet further feature of the present application includes wherein thesecond link extends in a straight line, and wherein the first linkincludes a bend located closer to an end of the second link connected tothe drive vane than to an end of the second link connected to thereciprocating hinge.

Still another aspect of the present application includes a methodcomprising providing torque to a drive vane disposed within an inletguide vane assembly for an air compressor, rotating a reciprocatinghinge about a radial axis and translating the reciprocating hinge in adirection of a bulk flow of the inlet guide vane assembly as a result ofreceiving force from the drive vane via a first link, and pivoting adriven vane as a result of receiving force from the reciprocating hingevia a second link.

A feature of the present application includes wherein the reciprocatinghinge is a first reciprocating hinge located on a first side of thedriven vane, and which further includes a second reciprocating hingelocated on a second side of the driven vane, wherein the firstreciprocating hinge and the second reciprocating hinge axially translateout of phase with each other such that axial forward motion in the firstreciprocating hinge results in axial rearward motion in the secondreciprocating hinge.

Another feature of the present application includes wherein the firstlink is coupled via a hinge connection to a connection rod installed inan opening of the drive vane, and which further includes pivoting thefirst link about the hinge connection as a result of movement of thedrive vane.

Still another feature of the present application further includessliding a bearing of the reciprocating hinge within a groove of abearing guide.

Yet another feature of the present application includes wherein thebearing is a ball bearing, and which further includes rotating an innerrace of the ball bearing relative to an outer race of the ball bearing.

Still yet another feature of the present application further includes aplurality of driven vanes, first links, reciprocating hinges, and secondlinks.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood thatwhile the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or morepreferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature sodescribed may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary andembodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope ofthe invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. Inreading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,”“at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intentionto limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to thecontrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “aportion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire itemunless specifically stated to the contrary. Unless specified or limitedotherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled”and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct andindirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,“connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an inlet guide vanedevice having a plurality of vanes, one the plurality of vanes being adrive vane and the other of the plurality of vanes being driven vanes,each of the drive vane and a driven vanes project radially into a flowstream, the drive vane and the driven vanes structured as variable vanesthat pivot about their respective rotational axes to change a crosssectional area of the inlet guide vane through which the flow streamtraverses, the drive vane coupled to at least one of the driven vanesthrough a reciprocating hinge, the reciprocating hinge connected to thedrive vane through a first link and connected to the at least one of thedriven vanes through a second link such that rotation of the drive vaneabout its axis causes motion of the reciprocating hinge through actionof the first link, and the motion of the reciprocating hinge causesactuation of the at least one of the driven vanes through action of thesecond link, wherein the drive vane is capable of causing sympatheticmotion of the driven vane without a circumferentially extendingsynchronization ring.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, which furtherincludes a plurality of connection rods, and a plurality of first links,reciprocating hinges, and second links distributed in a repeatingpattern around the inlet guide vane device, the pattern including:connection rod connected to first link connected to reciprocating hingeconnected to second link connected to connection rod connected to secondlink connected to reciprocating hinge connected to first link.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of connection rods includesa plurality of first connection rods and a plurality of secondconnection rods, the plurality of first connection rods shorter than theplurality of second connection rods, the connection rod of the drivevane being one of the plurality of first connection rods.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the repeating pattern is connected to theplurality of driven vanes and only a single drive vane, wherein thereciprocating hinge includes a bearing, and which further includes meansfor guiding the bearing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein within thepattern the first recited reciprocating hinge is located on an opposingside of the at least one driven vane relative to the second recitedreciprocating hinge.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a connectionrod extends through an opening of the at least one driven vane in adirection transverse to the rotational axis of the at least one drivenvane.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a hinge point of theconnection rod and second link form a larger moment arm about the atleast one driven vane than a moment arm formed by the hinge point of theconnection rod and the first link about the drive vane.
 8. The apparatusof claim 7, wherein the opening is a through-opening extending from oneside of the driven vane, and wherein the first link includes arelatively constant width as well as a length, the length longer thanthe width, and wherein the first link includes an end that is bent alongits length.
 9. An apparatus comprising: an inlet guide vane assemblyincluding: a drive vane structured to receive a torque to generatemovement in the drive vane and thereby change a cross sectional area ofa flow path of the inlet guide vane assembly; a first link connected tothe drive vane and structured to move in response to pivoting motion ofthe drive vane; a reciprocating hinge connected to the drive vane viathe first link, the reciprocating hinge structured to receive motionfrom the first link and rotate about an axis oriented in a radialdirection of the inlet guide vane assembly and to translate in an axialdirection of the inlet guide vane assembly; a second link connected tothe reciprocating hinge and structured to move in response to therotation and translation of the reciprocating hinge; and a driven vaneconnected to the reciprocating hinge via the second link, the drivenvane structured to receive a torque from movement of the second link tocause rotation of the driven vane and thereby change a cross sectionalarea of the flow path of the inlet guide vane assembly.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the driven vane moves in response tomovement of the drive vane without need of a circumferentiallytranslating ring that synchronizes movement.
 11. The apparatus of claim9, the reciprocating hinge having a pivoting member slidably received ina guide.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, where the guide is a bearingguide structured to capture a bearing of the reciprocating hinge, thebearing permitting pivoting motion of the reciprocating hingeconstrained by the bearing guide.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinthe bearing is a ball bearing.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinthe bearing guide includes a grooved feature within which the bearing iscaptured, and wherein the grooved feature provides for a reciprocatingpath traversed by the reciprocating hinge, the reciprocating pathextending in a line that extends parallel to an internal flow space ofthe inlet guide vane device in which the flow stream traverses.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein a connection rod extends through anopening of the drive vane in a direction transverse to the rotationalaxis of the drive vane, and wherein the first link is connected to theconnection rod through a pivoting connection.
 16. The apparatus of claim15, wherein another connection rod extends through an opening of the atleast one driven vane in a direction transverse to the rotational axisof the driven vane, and wherein the second link is connected to theanother connection rod through a pivoting connection.
 17. The apparatusof claim 16, wherein the second link extends in a straight line, andwherein the first link includes a bend located closer to an end of thesecond link connected to the drive vane than to an end of the secondlink connected to the reciprocating hinge.
 18. A method comprising:providing torque to a drive vane disposed within an inlet guide vaneassembly for an air compressor; rotating a reciprocating hinge about aradial axis and translating the reciprocating hinge in a direction of abulk flow of the inlet guide vane assembly as a result of receivingforce from the drive vane via a first link; and pivoting a driven vaneas a result of receiving force from the reciprocating hinge via a secondlink.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reciprocating hinge is afirst reciprocating hinge located on a first side of the driven vane,and which further includes a second reciprocating hinge located on asecond side of the driven vane, wherein the first reciprocating hingeand the second reciprocating hinge axially translate out of phase witheach other such that axial forward motion in the first reciprocatinghinge results in axial rearward motion in the second reciprocatinghinge.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first link is coupled viaa hinge connection to a connection rod installed in an opening of thedrive vane, and which further includes pivoting the first link about thehinge connection as a result of movement of the drive vane.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, which further includes sliding a bearing of thereciprocating hinge within a groove of a bearing guide.
 22. The methodof claim 21, wherein the bearing is a ball bearing, and which furtherincludes rotating an inner race of the ball bearing relative to an outerrace of the ball bearing.
 23. The method of claim 22, which furtherincludes a plurality of driven vanes, first links, reciprocating hinges,and second links.